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Blockchain & Crypto vocabulary · Networks, Forks & Scaling

Hard fork

Meaning in blockchain & crypto, with examples

nounCommon term

In blockchain & crypto, hard fork means: A change to a blockchain's rules that is not compatible with older software, so every node must upgrade. If part of the community refuses, the chain can split into two separate networks.

In Turkish: sert çatallanma, zorunlu ağ güncellemesi

How it is used

Most hard forks are planned network upgrades set for a specific block height or date. Exchanges announce that they will support the hard fork and may pause deposits and withdrawals. A contentious hard fork is one the community disagrees about.

Example sentences

  1. The hard fork is scheduled for block 19,500,000, so node operators must upgrade before then.

  2. Deposits and withdrawals will be suspended for about an hour during the hard fork.

Common collocations

  • planned hard fork
  • contentious hard fork
  • support the hard fork
  • hard fork upgrade
  • forkA change to a blockchain's rules or a split in its history, which can lead to one updated chain or to two separate chains. In software, it also means a copy of a code base that is developed separately.
  • nodeA computer that runs the blockchain software, keeps a copy of the ledger and passes transactions and blocks on to other computers in the network.
  • mainnetThe live, public version of a blockchain network where transactions are real and tokens have real value, as opposed to a test network.
  • protocolThe set of rules and code that defines how a blockchain or crypto service works. In DeFi, the word often means the whole system of smart contracts behind an app.

More terms: Networks, Forks & Scaling

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